1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
- Engine
- 3.0L inline-six with alloy block
- Colour
- Fire Red (DB 534)
A 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster finished originally in Fire Red over black leather, belonging to the most sought-after specification: four-wheel disc brakes and alloy engine block, one of just over 200 so equipped. Delivered new to the United States, the car spent nearly four decades with a single meticulous owner before passing through noted 300 SL specialists and a prominent watch-industry figure. A full engine rebuild was carried out by Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in 2017, followed by a multi-year bare-metal refinish by Coachwerks Restoration to a concours standard, with all major components confirmed numbers-matching.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$2,260,000
- —Auction saleSold €1,232,000 (≈ $1.36M)
- —Auction saleEstimate €1,400,000 – €1,600,000
- 1962 → 1974Early US private owners (pre-1974)partial documentation
After US delivery, the car reportedly passed through a small number of private hands before 1974. No individual names or specific transactions are recorded for this period.
- 1974 → 2011Private salePedro Garciafull documentation
Gull Wing Group member based in Georgia who kept the car for nearly four decades with meticulous care and limited use. A substantial history file from this period survives, including a 1983 invoice from a specialist workshop whose staff photographed areas of notable originality.
- 2011 →Private saleHK Engineeringpartial documentation
Specialist dealer based in Polling, Germany, reportedly describing the car as among the most original examples they had encountered. Subsequently sold the car to Jean-Claude Biver.
- 2020 →Acquisition unknownCurrent US-based consignorfull documentation
Returned the car to the United States and commissioned a full mechanical inspection by RM Auto Restoration, followed by an extensive multi-year bare-metal repaint and interior refurbishment by Coachwerks Restoration, with documented expenditure exceeding $250,000.
- Date unknownPrivate saleJean-Claude Biverpartial documentation
Noted collector and former chairman of TAG Heuer who acquired the car from HK Engineering.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownSubsequent caretaker (post-Biver, 2017 engine rebuild)partial documentation
One of several owners following Biver who commissioned a comprehensive engine rebuild by Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Stuttgart in 2017.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1983ServiceGullwing Service Company
Engine service carried out at Gullwing Service Company in Topsfield, Massachusetts. The mechanics documented various areas of original factory preservation through photographs for future reference.
Invoice retained in the history file; work performed during Pedro Garcia's ownership.
- 2017Engine rebuildMercedes-Benz Classic Center
Full engine rebuild performed by Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Stuttgart, Germany, commissioned by one of the post-Biver private caretakers.
- 2020InspectionRM Auto Restoration
Comprehensive mechanical inspection and operational review conducted by RM Auto Restoration upon the car's return to the United States. All numbered components were confirmed to match factory data card records, including chassis, body, engine, gearbox, rear axle, steering box, and both front axles.
RM Auto Restoration is noted as an eight-time Pebble Beach award-winning firm based in Chatham, Ontario.
- —RestorationCoachwerks Restoration
Multi-year bare-metal refinishing carried out by Coachwerks Restoration in Victoria, British Columbia. The body was found to be in exceptional original condition requiring minimal preparation. The car was repainted in black (replacing the original Fire Red), fitted with a new black soft top and a new black leather interior, and assembled to factory standards including new transmission seals, a new clutch, annual engine service, and concours-level detailing of the undercarriage, engine, and engine bay.
Supporting invoices totalling over $250,000 accompany the car; work was commissioned by the current consignor following the 2020 RM inspection. Precise start and completion years not stated beyond being recent and multi-year.
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